Daily Archives: March 22, 2008
Genetics of Behavior: Fire Ants
A common presumption is that behavior is part of phenotype, and since phenotype arises from genotype (plus/minus Reaction Norm), that there can be a study of “behavioral genetics.” This is certainly an overstatement (or oversimplification) for organisms with extensive and/or complex neural systems, such as humans and mice. Neural systems probably evolved (not initially, but eventually) to disassociate behavior with the kind of pre-determined micro-management of behavior that a simple gene-behavior link requires. However, in organisms with neural systems the size of the period at the end of this sentence, we often do see cases of allelic variations causing behavioral variation in the whole organism. The study discussed here is an example of this. Continue reading Genetics of Behavior: Fire Ants
Here Fido …. AAARRRGGG!! You’re a Robot!
Hat Tip: Zooillogix
The Boomerang Experiment Worked
… and, gave positive results. I know you have been waiting in anticipation for the results of an experiment in which an astronaut was going to toss a boomerang in space to see if it came back.Well, it worked:
Boomerang works in space: Japanese astronaut from PhysOrg.com
In an unprecedented experiment, a Japanese astronaut has thrown a boomerang in space and confirmed it flies back much like on Earth.[…]
Whew, this one had me really worried…
MS Down, Mac, Linux Up
For the first time in ages, the sale of new PCs with Windows as a percentage of the PC market is declining sharply. The new winner is the Mac, but, while no one does a good job of tracking the still-new, pre-installed Linux desktop market, it’s also clear that Linux is finally making impressive inroads into Windows’ once unchallenged market share.
Evolution does have a direction after all
.. according to a forthcoming article in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Specifically, this paper argues for a trend in increasing morphological complexity, observed in several different parallel lineages of Crustacea. Continue reading Evolution does have a direction after all
Carnival Stuff
I and the Bird # 71 is here. I am covering both Gene Genie and Berr Go Round, so please send me your gene and plant submissions over the next couple of days!
“I can see!!!!”says space robot
New Robot Gets Eyes, Tools in Spacewalk from PhysOrg.com
(AP) — Now that the space station’s new robot is fully assembled, astronauts prepared to attach the giant machine directly to the orbiting outpost for the first time on Tuesday.[…]
Myers and Dawkins Speak Out on Expelled Expulsion
This little video, very nicely done, should be shown in all social studies classes in America, discussed at length, and it should be on the exam. From now on.Source: Richarddawkins.netLord Privy Seals All The Way Down … arf arf.See also:PZ Myers Expelled, Gains SainthoodExpelled! The Movie To Be Pulled From Theaters Following Myers/Dawkins-Gate Screwup
UPDATE on Expelled-Gate
More links have been added to the ever growing sampling of commentary on the Myers-Dawkins Expelled-Gate Event.As e we move ever closer to the self destruction of the Intelligent Design Movement, I note that the Expelled Gate Even now is now competing for space in the Wikipedia Entry on Irony (but some help may be needed … there seems to be some creationists there erasing themselves whenever the evolutionists add them in).